Genre: Sci-fi, crossover, AU

Pairings: 1x2, other

Disclaimer: Don't own nothin' but these words

Warnings: Yaoi, lemon, language, violence, torture, abuse, character death (sort of), misuse of electricity, telepathy, politics

Special note: Dedicated to Nalamacleod and Hikishi, because this was your request to me. I hope you enjoy it!

A/N: I seem to have found my stride again.

Sanity

The rush of going through the Stargate was still relatively new to the N'saian boys, and Wufei thoroughly enjoyed it. He wanted to turn around and go straight back through, but he doubted O'Neill would appreciate such frivolous activity. The human was obviously a veteran by now, judging by the way he just oh-so-calmly stepped through and didn't so much as stumble as he walked out the other side. Both Wufei and Trowa did, and Wufei had to physically restrain himself from striking Teal'c when the large Jaffa grabbed his elbow to steady him.

He's just being polite, that's all. We're not on Desaine anymore. Control firmly restored, he straightened with a nod to the large fellow and looked around.

This 'gate was connected to a world that didn't have any immediately visible civilization. There was, however, a plume of smoke rising in the near distance, and Wufei narrowed his eyes a little. Even his keen eyes couldn't make out the origin, and he looked up at O'Neill, childishly wishing the man weren't so much taller than him.

"Where's that smoke coming from?" and opened his senses to 'hear' the answer.

Beta Site. It's a human base away from Earth, a place where one day there might be a colony. It's far from any Gao'uld strongholds, it's off their network of 'gates, and there's a good deposit of Trinium in the mountains to the west.

"You'll see when we get there," O'Neill said, waving his P-90.

Yep, Wufei really liked that gun. He wondered if he'd get his own. He and Trowa were both armed with twin combat knives which were quite mean little weapons, but guns were quicker. Neater.

Trowa flashed Wufei a very, very tiny smile, letting the slightly older youth know his friend had been 'listening' for the answer, as well. And he was pleased that Earth had a good supply of Trinium. The Gundams would require a lot of it. And other things Earth probably didn't have, but they could make do. As far as Wufei was concerned, the more inferior the Gundam, the less likely the thing would be to attempt controlling its pilot. That could only be a good thing.

"Teal'c, how did you come to serve in the SGC?" Trowa asked abruptly.

Wufei quickly tuned in, curious to know the answer as well. Was the former First Prime of the Gao'uld System Lord Apophis. Privately considered his master to be a barbarian and tyrant. Was always waiting for the right opportunity to escape enslavement. O'Neill convinced him to help him free some slaves, won the Jaffa's trust, and now faithfully serves Earth in their fight against the Gao'uld.

Teal'c replied with some of that, and his answer was every bit as succint and to-the-point as the flashes of information Wufei received from his mind. His thoughts, like O'Neill's, were disciplined. He just had no idea how to make sure no errant thoughts strayed out to those capable of hearing them. Wufei noticed a bit too late that O'Neill was watching him closely, his dark brown eyes narrowed beneath his camo-green cap.

"You're doing it again, aren't you?"

His attitude, Wufei thought while gritting his teeth, was really starting to get annoying. "We aren't - " he began heatedly.

Trowa once more interjected in a soothing tone he'd picked up from his golden-haired lover. "I apologize, Colonel. We aren't reading your minds, I swear to you. All we're doing is . . . picking up on the surface images. If we were trying to read your minds, you'd most likely be able to feel the intrusion since both of you have highly disciplined minds."

Smooth-talker, Wufei thought with an internal grin. That compliment made a small rush of pride flicker through O'Neill. Whether Teal'c felt complimented or not was a mystery, he barely reacted at all. "You've learned a lot from Quatre, haven't you?" he couldn't help teasing.

Trowa threw him a glance. "His way of handling people usually works better than yours."

He couldn't show it on his face because he didn't want to insult O'Neill, but Wufei shared a strictly silent laugh with Trowa.

The 'Beta Site' turned out to be an efficiently-run military camp with semi-permanent shelters built. Wufei stretched out with his senses, making sure to include Trowa since his telepathy was far stronger, doing a mental inventory. More than sixty people, and not all of them were military. He could also sense more in the mountains, no doubt mining the Trinium. Trowa rode along with him, adding a little strength here and there just to improve Wufei's reach.

"Almost one-hundred people," he said aloud before he remembered himself. Really, would he ever be used to keeping his abilities to himself?

O'Neill, however, just looked down at him. "Eighty nine," he confirmed, "though that number will be increasing soon. "We're going to establish this as a Jaffa training and refugee camp. We just have to haul in all the supplies we'll need."

Wufei nodded, impressed by what he saw. "Heero was right about you people. Extremely resourceful, even with a level of technology that doesn't necessarily match up with all else that's out there."

The human just snorted. "One of our most loveable traits. Come on, kids."

The military leader of the camp turned out to be a Major Gates, and he gave O'Neill a sharp salute, waves of respect rolling off him. Wufei nodded to himself. It was always good to know soldiers respected and obeyed their leader.

"Colonel," he said. "Are these Airmen from the Academy?"

"Yep," O'Neill lied easily. "Best and brightest of their class. Barton and Chang, meet Major Gates, CO of Alpha Site."

It wasn't the first time Wufei had seen that salute, so he deduced it was the proper way to greet a commanding officer. He therefore drew himself up straight and saluted. At his side, Trowa mimicked him. It pleased O'Neill.

"Pleased to meet you, Sir," Trowa said.

Gates beamed them a million-watt smile. "At ease, Airmen. Your first time through the 'gate?"

Wufei automatically opened his mouth to give the truth, but O'Neill sent out such a deliberate pulse of warning he reminded himself he was human. He smiled in what he hoped was a humanlike way. "Yes, Sir. It was exhilirating. We can't wait to do it again."

Trowa echoed him with a smile that looked more amused than anything else.

Satisfaction from O'Neill.

"I'm glad you're here, Colonel," Gates now addressed the older human. "We've been having trouble with the natives. Specifically, one native."

Wufei 'listened' for more information, and he got it in a quick burst. A large creature with a frame more bulky than a bear, a face somewhat like a wild boar with very large, thick tusks and three eyes. Big ears for good hearing, strange armored plates on its back and back of its legs instead of fur, extremely quick on its feet for such a size. Extremely aggressive, will not back down from confrontation, has been injured many times with P-90 fire, seems to heal remarkably fast.

"What is it?" O'Neill asked.

When Gates explained, Teal'c stirred. "It matches the description of a ma'ghreet," he said. "The System Lords used to use them to guard their temples, but they became too aggressive to control and were all released on different worlds to terrorize the populations."

Swell, Wufei thought scathingly. As if he didn't have enough reason to hate the Gao'uld.

"This'll be a great chance for you boys to see a little action and put your educations to good use," O'Neill said, looking down at Trowa and Wufei. "We'll be back in a bit, Major. We'll head out toward the mine site."

"Yes, sir," Gates said, saluting again.

Curious, Wufei followed the colonel, perfectly ready to do exactly what O'Neill wanted. That was, to find a way of dealing with the ma'ghreet without anyone being hurt. Quatre would be better at dealing with an animal, his empathy able to tell him things about dumber creatures that telepathy could not. He told the colonel so when they were out of earshot.

"It's fine if you can't deal with it peacefully," O'Neill said, and to Wufei's amusement he sent a silent apology to Dr. Jackson.

The peace-loving archaeologist definitely wouldn't approve of killing the thing. Wufei was less sympathetic. If something destructive came along and could not coexist, it must be removed for the safety of all. And the ma'ghreet was an invasive species that might very well be doing the environment more harm than good. Should anyone need a justification.

Wufei did not.

"How will you deal with it?" Teal'c asked, looking quite curious.

Wufei shrugged. "It depends. I can easily change the mindset of weak-willed humans, but animals are more difficult. They don't rationalize, they follow their instincts. Instinct is harder to target. If I can't convince it to leave for good, I'll kill it."

"How?" O'Neill asked, and Wufei could tell he wasn't sure if he wanted to know.

"The easiest way I can," he replied, though most of them would probably cause the dumb beast unnecessary pain.

"I could stop its heart," Trowa piped up. "It wouldn't suffer for long."

"Fine," O'Neill said, nodding.

His preference was for killing the beast and eliminating the problem for good.

o0o 0o0

Their new quarters on the base were a little small, Duo thought, but comfortable. There was only one bed, and it was plenty big enough for two people. Duo wondered whose idea that was so he could thank them. There was a desk, a couch, a few stuffed chairs, and a few fake plants. It looked bare, but as Heero sat down at one end of the couch, only approval rolled off his lover.

"We'll make it our own in no time," he said, patting the space beside him.

Duo didn't sit down, rather he laid down and put his head on Heero's lap. "I know. It desperately needs some color."

Daniel Jackson followed them in and closed the door. "Well, what do you think? Hopefully it won't feel too crowded. To conserve space, we only put in one bed."

And because they knew the two boys would only use one. Duo smiled.

"It's perfect. It just needs some nice pictures on the walls. Can we have some brought in?"

"Of course," Daniel said, sitting down on one of the chairs. "Are you two ready to begin?"

"Yep!" Duo chirped, closing his eyes in bliss when Heero started stroking his hair back and massaging his scalp.

"All right," Daniel said. "The first question is always about how you are. How are you two feeling about all this change in your lives? You've overcome tremendous physical obstacles and suffered a great deal of physical and emotional trauma."

"Mm," Duo said, looking up at Heero and feeling out his lover's response, "we're both okay. A little battered, sure. But you know, the N'saian are never ones to wallow in suffering. We're survivors." Then he sighed. "Somehow, that feels irreverent to say."

Heero's cobalt eyes bored into his indigo, and a great sadness passed between them.

Daniel waited a moment. "And how are you holding up about that? You're the last of your people."

Nothing but concern emanated from the blue-eyed human, so Duo was able to answer honestly. "It's hard," he admitted, "and that realization strikes us at weird times. But what good does it do to dwell on it? You can either keep going or . . . be a basket case." He grinned.

Daniel chuckled. "As true as that is, do you both feel like you've come to terms with your loss and dealt with it?"

Another pause as the pair exchanged images and feelings. "Well," Duo said slowly, "we've . . . accepted it. I think we'll still be grieving for a long time, though. But because we still have each other and we all share a special bond, we're able to face each day without breaking down."

Daniel smiled. "You have a great attitude. Both of you."

Duo broke into a grin. "How do you know it's Heero's attitude? He hasn't said anything."

Another soft laugh. "But I can see you two are communicating. It's all over both your faces. I'm glad you all have each other. The next question is easier, I hope. You two were betrayed by the former organization you worked under. Do you feel you can trust the SGC and give us your complete loyalty?"

"Yes," Duo replied without hesitation. "On Desaine we could start feeling something was wrong. We were younger and maybe more naive, because we couldn't prepare ourselves in time. And we always felt we owed them something. It's different with Earth. You don't want anything from us. And Heero still can't quite believe that." Grinning up at his love, he brushed the backs of his fingers over Heero's cheek.

Who returned the grin with a small smile.

Daniel put the file folder he'd been holding on the desk. "This next part I've always felt was strange, but it's called an ink-blot. Basically, I'll hold up a sheet of paper, and you tell me the first thing that pops into your mind."

Ink blot, literally pouring black ink onto a piece of paper, folding it in half, and letting it dry. Duo frowned a little. Seemed like a strange test, and what exactly was it supposed to reveal? Ah well, no matter, he was game. Daniel held up a sheet.

It was Heero who responded. "A big blot of ink," he said.

And he was so dead serious. Not a trace of sarcasm or humor. Duo burst into giggles.

Daniel looked amused, too. "Try not to be so literal-minded. Do you see some shape in the ink?"

Heero didn't look back at the paper, holding Daniel's gaze. "I'm sorry, but all I see is a blot of non-geometrical, not-quite-symmetrical black ink on plain white paper."

Chuckling, Daniel looked at Duo. "You?"

"Um, it kinda looks like a retarded bird? Maybe?" Duo offered.

Still grinning, Daniel tucked it back in his file folder. "Okay, so maybe that's a waste of time. I've always thought so. I'm going to tell the general I think you two are holding up remarkably well considering all you've been through, and there's no reason to believe you're psychologically unfit to serve in the field. You still have the actual evaluation with another member of the staff, but I think my opinion matters to General Hammond." He smiled.

Duo returned it. "Can't you tell General Hammond that you already did our psyche evaluation? You understand that we don't both need to respond to the questions, that I'm literally speaking for both of us."

Daniel sighed. "I truly wish I could, but I'm not qualified to judge someone's psyche. You'll probably talk to Dr. McKenzie, but he's a good man. I'll try to talk to him beforehand, explain that you two are in constant communication with each other and that you are the talker for both, Duo." He winked.

Duo giggled. Heero smiled down at him. "You really like him, don't you?"

"Mm hmm. He's got a heart of gold, isn't that what Mother used to say? And even you can't deny, he's really hot."

Heero snorted, drawing a curious look from Daniel, but neither bothered to explain. Sometimes, silence was more prudent.